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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
    10. Back - Bar
    11. Back - Subwoofer
    12. Back - Satellites
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
    10. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    11. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

Bose Soundbar 500 vs Bose TV Speaker

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Soundbar 500
Bose TV Speaker

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:12 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Nov 05, 2024 08:33 PM

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Amazon.com
Bose Soundbar 500 Picture
Bose TV Speaker Picture
  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Bose
  3. Under $200
  4. Under $300

Variants

  • Soundbar 500
  • TV Speakers (Black)

Our Verdict

Bose Soundbar 500

Bose TV Speaker

The Bose TV Speaker and the Bose Soundbar 500 are two well-built soundbars with different setups. The Bose TV Speaker is a 2.0 setup that's smaller and more compact, which some users may prefer. It has a better-balanced sound profile with a decent amount of bass. The 500, on the other hand, is a 3.0 setup with a better-performing discrete center channel. It also has a better surround performance, EQ presets, and an ethernet port if you want to listen to audio from a flash drive. It even supports eARC, and although it re-encodes these formats into Dolby Digital, it has a companion app, and you can stream audio to it via Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay, and Bluetooth.

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Standard
Soundbar 500
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Walmart.com
Black
TV Speakers
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Amazon.com
Standard
Soundbar 500
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Amazon.com
Black
TV Speakers
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BestBuy.com
Standard
Soundbar 500
Amazon.com
Black
TV Speakers
Amazon.com
 
Black
TV Speakers
Amazon.com
 
Black
TV Speakers
Amazon.com
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.7
6.2

Center 
 

8.3
6.8

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - bar
Bose TV Speaker Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - sub
Bose TV Speaker Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - satellites
Bose TV Speaker Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - bar
Bose TV Speaker Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

31.5" (80.0 cm)
23.5" (59.6 cm)

Height  

1.7" (4.3 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)

Depth  

4.0" (10.2 cm)
4.1" (10.4 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - sub
Bose TV Speaker Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - satellites
Bose TV Speaker Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose TV Speaker Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose TV Speaker Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Build quality photo
Bose TV Speaker Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Soundbar 500 In The Box photo
Bose TV Speaker In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on underside)
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
7.2

Stereo Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Stereo Setup
Bose TV Speaker Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

3.0
2.0

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Slope 
 

0.53
-0.10

Standard Error 
 

2.53 dB
2.82 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

14.7 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.2
7.2

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

20
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-30
N/A

Slope 
 

0.15
-0.10

Standard Error 
 

2.14 dB
2.82 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

14.7 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.89 dB
2.99 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.6
6.2

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.3 dB SPL
84.6 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

N/A

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.29 dB
2.41 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.40

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.3
6.8

Center Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Center Setup
Bose TV Speaker Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Phantom

Slope 
 

0.59
0.08

Std. Err. 
 

2.88 dB
2.45 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.6 dB SPL
88.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.37
0.50

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.97
1.08
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.6
3.3

Surround Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Surround Setup
Bose TV Speaker Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.10
-1.17

Std. Err. 
 

4.17 dB
4.79 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.7 dB SPL
84.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.09
0.55

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.31
1.11

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Height Setup
Bose TV Speaker Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Soundbar 500 H Frequency Response
Bose TV Speaker H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.6
2.1

Room Correction 
 

Yes
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

EQ 
 

No
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Bose TV Speaker Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bose TV Speaker Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

No
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes

HDMI ARC 
 

1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.6
4.8

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Not Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Undetermined
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.0
6.5

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

10

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

10 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

28 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

8.4
0.0

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

50 ms

Optical 
 

46 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

10

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

69 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

126 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

10
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
No

Spotify Connect 
 

No
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Interface photo
Bose TV Speaker Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Controls photo
Bose TV Speaker Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Remote photo
Bose TV Speaker Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No

App 
 

App image  

Bose Soundbar 500 App image

App Name  

Bose Music

iOS  

Yes

Android  

Yes

Acts As A Remote 
 

Yes

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

All

Casts Device Files 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Standby

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Standard
Soundbar 500
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
TV Speakers
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Standard
Soundbar 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
TV Speakers
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Standard
Soundbar 500
Amazon.com
Black
TV Speakers
Amazon.com
 
Black
TV Speakers
Amazon.com
 
Black
TV Speakers
Amazon.com

Bose Soundbar 500

Bose TV Speaker

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose Soundbar 500 vs Bose TV Speaker: Main Discussion

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